Surname Eberhard - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Eberhard: What does the surname Eberhard mean?
The last name Eberhard is of German origin and is derived from the elements "eber" which means "boar" and "hard" meaning "strong." It is most likely an occupational name, derived from someone who was an armorer, someone who supervisors borers of weapons, specifically swords and lances.
The family and name dates back to at least as early as the 15th century with the ancestral home being in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The Eberhard family was a prominent noble family in the Middle Ages.
The Eberhard coat of arms is a red shield with mounted silver boar, looking back over its left shoulder, surrounded by four rosebush twigs. The crest of the Eberhard family is a golden arm with sleeve, wearing a ring of its right arm and holding a hammer as a sign of the armors trade.
The motto of the Eberhard family is "Adversus Ferrum et Ignem" which is Latin for "Against Steel and Fire," alluding to the family's occupation working with metal and fire.
Today, the last name Eberhard is found mostly in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, but due to immigration it can also be found in America, parts of Europe, South America, Canada and Africa.
Order DNA origin analysisEberhard: Where does the name Eberhard come from?
The last name Eberhard is most commonly found in Germany. It is of German origin and is derived from the words 'Eber' (boar) and 'hard' (brave or hardy). The variant forms of this name include Everhard, Eberhardt, Eberhart, Ebberhard, and Eberharde.
Germany still remains the most popular place to find the Eberhard surname. As of the year 2000, there were at least 24,000 people who used the surname Eberhard in Germany. Other countries in Europe where the name is relatively common are the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. It is also somewhat prevalent in the United States and Canada, where many people with the last name Eberhard emigrated from Germany during the 19th century.
Today, the majority of people with this name live in Germany and other Central European nations. It is also found in many other parts of the world, especially among communities of German descent. The last name Eberhard is most frequently associated with Germany and its culture, but it can also be found elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Eberhard
The surname Eberhard has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the name include Eberharde, Eberhardt, Eberhart, Aebherard, Aebherart, Aebherhard, Aebherhardt, Ebert, Eberts, and Aebbers. Spellings of the name can include Ebarhard, Eburhard, Aiberhard, Aiberhardt, and Aiberhart.
Surnames of the same origin as Eberhard include Ebersol, Ebersole, Ebright, Ebrahimi, Ebertsen, Ebner, Eberly, Eberling, and Ebbeler.
Eberhard is a German name which means “strong and hard” and is derived from the German words “eber” meaning “strong” and “hart” meaning “hard.” This name is popular among German and Swiss families. It is also common in parts of Austria and the Netherlands.
The surname is believed to originate from the Old German personal name “Eber” which came to Britain in its various forms with the Norman invasions of the 11th and 12th centuries. It is a patronymic and derived from the nickname given to people who were strong or hardworking.
Many variants and spellings of Eberhard originate from mispronunciation, variations of spoken dialects, and changes due to immigration. Surnames of the same origin as Eberhard can be found in German-speaking countries around Europe, including Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Eberhard
- Ulrich Eberhard: Former East German football goalkeeper, won the East German Cup with FC Berliner BFC Dynamo in 1977.
- David Eberhard: Swedish musician and composer in contemporary classical or “new music”.
- William Eberhard: Swiss mathematician and professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale in Zurich.
- Joe Eberhard: Retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association.
- Martin Eberhard: American engineer, entrepreneur, and businessman, co-founder of Tesla, Inc.
- Walter Eberhard: German geographer and professor at the University of Mainz.
- Henry Eberhard: American aerospace engineer and executive at vehicle manufacturers Ford Motor Company and Tesla, Inc.
- Guido Eberhard: Swiss philologist and professor of the ancient languages at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
- Harry Eberhard: American visual artist and Research Professor at the University of California, Davis.
- Christoph Eberhard: German painter, draughtsman, and medalist.